Water scarcity and drought represent critical challenges to the survival of life on Earth.
Membrane-based desalination technology, particularly reverse osmosis (RO) using thin-
film composite (TFC) membranes, offers an efficient solution for freshwater production.
Despite significant advancements, this technology still faces limitations such as relatively
low water permeability and the inherent permeability–selectivity trade-off, which restrict
its overall performance. To address these limitations, the incorporation of nanoparticles
into TFC membranes resulting in thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes has led to
improved desalination efficiency and performance. MXenes, a class of two-dimensional
nanomaterials, possess high specific surface area, strong surface functionalization
capability, suitable mechanical stability, and significant hydrophilicity. Therefore, they are
considered promising candidates for enhancing the performance of polyamide thin-film
membranes containing nanosheets. In this study, a polyethersulfone (PES) polymeric
support layer was first prepared as the membrane substrate. Subsequently, MXene
nanosheets modified with melanin nanoparticles and a polydopamine (PDA) coating layer
were employed as an interlayer. Following this, a polyamide active layer was fabricated
via interfacial polymerization on top of the interlayer. At each stage, optimal conditions
were determined to maximize water flux and salt rejection. The prepared membranes were
characterized using various analytical techniques, including FTIR, zeta potential analysis,
DLS, SEM, elemental mapping, XRD, and contact angle measurements. Finally, the
membrane performance was evaluated in a laboratory-scale reverse osmosis system using
parameters such as pure water flux and salt rejection. For the optimized iTFN membrane,
the pure water flux was measured as 4.21 ± 0.28 L. m⁻².h⁻¹. bar⁻¹, and the NaCl (1000 ppm)
rejection reached 93.3 ± 1.3%. Furthermore, the membrane exhibited a Na₂SO₄ (1